Bliss supports Mental Health Awareness Week

This year Mental Health Awareness week is focusing on stress. Find out how Bliss is taking part this year.

Research has shown that two thirds of us experience a mental health problem in our lifetimes, and stress is a key factor in this.

What is Mental Health Awareness Week?

Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, the week aims to raise awareness of how stress can impact on our lives, what we can do to deal with stress and improve our mental health.

We know that having a baby in neonatal care can be very stressful for parents, and can lead to difficulties coping with their mental health and wellbeing. For example, mothers of premature babies are 40 per cent more likely to be affected by postnatal depression soon after birth than mothers of full-term babies.[1]

What are we doing to support the week?

We’ll be sharing information and tips from parents, health professionals and more all week on social media to raise awareness and make a difference. Follow us for updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

We are also calling for better psychological support for families this week.

Caroline Lee-Davey, Chief Executive of Bliss said: “Mental Health Awareness Week provides the opportunity for Bliss to renew its call for better psychological support for families on neonatal units across the UK, during what can be an incredibly difficult and distressing time for parents.

“At present, none of the UK nations is reaching the national standard for providing psychological support to parents on units. Bliss is calling for more funding from every UK Government to ensure that mental health support is available to each parent who has a baby in neonatal care.”

Where can I get mental health support?

If you would like mental health support we would always recommend speaking to your health professional first, but there are lots of other organisations out there that can help. Take a look at our full list of useful organisations.